The donation of three new ECG machines to Noble’s by the Manx Heart Foundation is helping ensure swift diagnosis of heart conditions and increasing capacity for patients to have tests.
The charity donated £20,000 for the purchase of two Philips TC70 with wireless connectivity ECG machines for the Emergency Department - which previously had one - and another for use by Children’s Ward and Paediatric Outpatients.
Attendances at ED have risen sharply over the last four years with 6,000 more people arriving at the door in 2019 than in 2015, and approximately every third patient needs an ECG during their visit.
Manager for Unscheduled Care at Noble’s Oliver Radford said:
‘Our need to increase ECG capacity has never been greater. ECG machines are an essential immediate means to diagnose and treat patients who present with chest pain, seatbelt injury or who feel dizzy, hot or faint – conditions which need swift investigation. Having two machines will ensure a better flow of patients, improving the experience at ED for all. This donation from the Manx Heart Foundation means improved care for Island patients and is very much appreciated.’
The new ECG machines are equipped to integrate seamlessly with electronic health records allowing the result to be available to clinicians across the hospital as soon as the test is performed. ECGs are an essential tool in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of conditions that affect the heart, including pre-operative screening, heart failure, high blood pressure and assessing the effects of medication.
Women and Children’s Care Group manager Linda Thompson said:
‘The purchase of this vital piece of equipment will help our paediatric cardiology clinics run smoothly, enabling us to provide the team with immediate data that can be analysed by our visiting consultant from Alder Hey. The machine’s flexibility will allow ECGs to be carried out on Children’s Ward which again will provide up to the minute results.'
Chairman of the Manx Heart Foundation John Bourbon said:
‘We were very happy to be able to purchase these essential ECG machines for ED and the Children’s department. This equipment will help provide better and more consistent patient outcomes.’
He added:
‘The equipment is of core interest to the Manx Heart Foundation and we thank our supporters for helping fund the donation. We will continue to work with Noble’s, The Cardiac Rehabilitation Service and the Isle of Man Ambulance Service to find ways to assist them in the efficient delivery of their service to patients here in the Isle of Man.’
